With hospital closures increasing, this study examines how closures in both urban and rural areas affect access to care, use of care, claim costs, and duration of disability for workers recovering from work‑related injuries.

According to the study, examining hospital closures within the workers’ compensation system allows the analysis of outcomes not previously examined, including speed of recovery after a work‑related injury. Understanding patient‑level impacts of hospital closures is central to health policy decision‑making, particularly as care shifts across providers and settings.

The analysis covers more than 12 million non-fatal injury claims with injuries occurring between October 1, 2012, and September 30, 2023, and outcomes measured 12 months after injury. This study covers 29 states, representing over 80 percent of workers’ compensation benefits paid in 2021.

Impact of Hospital Closures on Access to Care and Claim Outcomes. Bogdan Savych and Olesya Fomenko. April 2026. WC-26-19.

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